​Last night I was lying on the couch listening to Jillian play the piano for about 20 minutes. It made me realize how much life is changing… and how much life has already changed. I’ve been sitting for Jillian since she was 3, and she is now 9. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly life is passing by.

Today is 9/11 and we all know about the tragic events associated with this day. I was 7 years old when the attacks happened and I barely remember anything. Jillian wasn’t even alive when the attacks happened.

I actually thought of this blog post last night but didn’t really feel like putting pen to paper (err- fingers to keys?). Sometimes I get these great ideas for a post and then I don’t really have anything spark them, but today I did.

As everything in life moves forward, the clock changes from minutes to hours, the calendars change from month to month, we are also changing. We are all evolving into something so much more. Lately, I can tell so many aspects changing and evolving.

Today for instance- I got upset. Last year at this time, when I got upset, I turned to my eating disorder to push me through. The rush of the way I treated my body helped me realize that I was in control. I could make my body purge, I could tell myself no… I was in complete control. It seemed that my disorder was the only thing that could control at the time, so I took it and ran with it. In reality- my disorder controlled me. I was held captive and I had no desire to be freed. Where does the change come in here? Well, when I got upset today, instead of dwelling (which is what I usually do, I’ll usually do anything to get attention in these situations) I decided to go run. I turn to exercise a lot but it used to be a mix of looking for attention as well as exercise… that only partially helped.

Today, I just ran and ran and ran. You know what I can control? MYSELF. I can control how I let situations affect me and how I react to them. Today I decided to take the drivers seat of my life and I rode that until I felt better. I pushed myself through a great run and got out of the house and went to a winery with friends. I have a new outlook when I get upset and it has been working well with me lately. I’m just distancing myself from the focal point of the reasoning behind my feelings. I’m not giving it the time of day. I close my eyes, tell myself how important I am, and I move on with life. I find a healthy way to release my negative energy and I end up feeling better.

​Change is such a beautiful concept. You have the choice and you always will. You can choose to keep growing or you can choose to keep doing what you’re doing (which means you will keep feeling how you are feeling). My goal is to be as independent as possible. I want to be as happy sleeping with someone, as I am alone. I want to make enough money to support myself. Most importantly, I want to make a name for myself and I want someone to remember me. I want someone to really look up to me in a way that because of me, they decided to come out of their comfort zone. Maybe they decided to start exercising or they made a life changing decision. I want to help people grow and I think that is one of my best qualities.

But with my best quality, comes my worst and they are both related. I sometimes put too much of my energy into helping others. I believe that we are all empathic to an extent; we all feed on each other’s energy. When someone is in need of my energy, God finds a way to put him or her in my life. I have yet to find the balance of giving my energy to others and using my own energy. I’m the girl with her eggs in one basket; it’s how it’s always been with me… Until lately.

I decided I’m done exerting all my energy. If I’m starting to feel something negative, I’d rather just not deal with it. I’m learning the art of speaking my peace and moving on. Does that mean I speak my peace and everything is A-OK? HELL NO. Your girl needs some time to reflect… if we don’t reflect, we can’t learn from anything. I do a lot of reflecting and it makes a lot of things clear for me. I’m a girl who looks into the future… I can’t help it, but I do. I like having somewhat of a plan but I’m learning that the plans you have now, don’t have to be in your future. You are allowed to change them at any point in time. That is the goddamn beauty of this life!!! IT IS YOURS. If you want to change it up, then hell! Change it up!

If it is possible for me to leave when I graduate, I’m out of here. And it’s not because I hate my parents or I’m tired of living at home. It’s because I’m ready for CHANGE. I’m ready for new. So far, I’m really proud of myself. I’ve been connecting with some old friends lately and also making new friends. I’m finding plans and making connections because I want to grow. There is a concert I am going to in October and there is a good chance I might be going alone AND THAT IS OKAY WITH ME! I know some of you are thinking it’s weird that I’m okay with going to a concert alone, but it doesn’t bother me what anything thinks about that decision. I want to see the artist…so I am going to see the artist. My plans do not revolve around anyone but myself. Do I want friends to go? Sure! I actually reached out to an old friend to see if they wanted to join in. But that isn’t going to affect the outcome of me going.

I was looking through some of my old Instagram posts last night and I just started smiling because I’m so happy with who I am. Like, hey guys I’m Kylie and I’m damn proud of that. I’m learning how to be more confident and self-respected because I’m put in situations where I need to (as my mom would say) “shit or get off the pot.” I need to either become Kylie… or mold into what everyone else wants me to be. Hell, if I had a little minion I could mold—I would love that; so I would expect everyone else would too. But I know for a fact I am not that minion. I will not be molded by anyone; I’m molding myself.

I’ve just felt different lately, a good different. I’ve felt more independent. I’m done relying on others to make me smile. “If you live by the jump shot, you die by the jump shot.” I have pride in who I am and it may sound cocky but it took me 22 damn years to learn how to love myself, so I will continue to say it. But, just because I say it doesn’t mean it’s true. I have to prove it. Actions speak louder than words. Just because I tell myself I’m beautiful, doesn’t mean I believe it. I dress in clothes that make me look good because that is my body’s way of expressing itself. I’m proving to myself that I love ME.

Damn this feels good. Usually when I get down, I get all “Kylie you suck” but that just isn’t the case anymore. I’m over self-blame. I really enjoy the self-worth and self-respect outlook. I don’t expect others to respect me, if I don’t respect myself. And let me tell you, ever since I turned over this new leaf, I’ve definitely gotten more respect. It feels great.

We all handle stress differently. I love this quote over to the left because it sounds like something my mom told me the other day. She said, "Ky, do you know how much happier you would be if you didn't worry about sh*t?"

Yes, mom. I do know how much happier I would be...

​I for one know that I do not handle stress well. I know this because I have been so stressed lately and it is just eating me alive. I start to bottle my emotions, I stop talking, I stop eating, and I’ve cried at least once every day for the past few days. It gets hard to talk about it sometimes because everyone seems so busy, and why should everyone else have to worry about my problems?

Well, what I usually do when I’m stressed that helps me is blogging, running, or sleeping. My parents hate when I partake in the last one because when I get in these moods, I do nothing but lay in bed all day long with the lights off and no human contact. It’s not healthy, but at times, it seems to be the best option.

I have decided that I am not the only one who gets stressed/depressed and I am not the only one who handles it poorly. I have to say that I have gotten a bit better. For instance today I texted my mom to see if I could go to her work to be with her during a meltdown. She unfortunately didn’t answer in time, so I had to get through it on my own… but I tried to reach out and ask for help (which is the important part).

So I came up with some ways to handle how you’re feeling. I know it is a popular option for people to indulge in unhealthy foods or say, do things like I do and close himself or herself off from everybody. So here are some HEALTHY ways to handle stress:

1. Go for a run/take a walkI am going to go for a run after I post this blog. I haven’t had much energy to run lately, but today I am going to push myself because I know I need it. Getting in some cardio is always a good fix to a bad mood. It gets your endorphins going and it makes you feel better… you have to try to be unhappy after a run!

2. WRITE it outAnd this is why I am blogging- because enough though it is just a quick fix to my emotions, I will take honestly anything at this point. I have written this blog and less than half an hour because it just keeps flowing. You don't even have to write about how you are feeling. Just write anything!

3. TALK it outMy sister has been my saving grace lately with this one. I haven’t gone to her for every meltdown, but I have gone to her for many of them and she has been ridiculously supportive. Luckily I know she has no life like me, so she isn’t as busy, meaning she has time for me. Honestly, just talk to whoever is willing to listen. I had a therapist once back in the day and I LOVED it. If someone cares enough to ask how you are, or talk to you and help you through this… then let them. Don’t push anyone away.

^ Following up on talking it out. Know who to go to. Know who will make you feel better or feel worse. I know when I am angry I go to my dad because I will vent to him and he will give me a sense of empowerment. I know when I am sad I go to my sister because she knows how to make me feel better (mainly because a lot of the feelings I am having now, and the situations I am in, she is in or has been in). I know when I need advice I go to my mom, she always knows exactly what to do. When I just need someone to talk to and give me the cold hard truth, I go to Jessica. When I need to vent my heart out and talk for 2 hours on the phone, I call Dani. When I need life advice because of my mental or eating disorders, I go to Jensy because she has been through everything and she has a heart of gold. I know who my support system is because they have proven it to me. No matter what I am feeling, they have never made me feel bad for it. I am so thankful. Find your support system and figure out the different levels of support you have… I bet you have more than you think.

4. Find a healthy alternative that fits your cravingsThis isn’t easy because the thought of eating a brownie over a protein bar just sounds better, but they do have some options out now that tastes like the real, unhealthy thing. Do a Google search and find something healthier that can fit your cravings. Or you can always email me! I have some pretty great alternatives. Oddly for me, I don't turn to eating when I am stressed, I just lose my appetite completely. But I definitely know some healthy sweets.

5. Take a step back from lifeI’ve been thinking about just taking a step back lately. Just doing my own thing and not worrying about anyone or anything else. It is much easier said than done. I have almost completed 24 hours off social media and it feels pretty good. Sometimes I get into overthinking the situation of deleting it, but honestly, I do think it was for the better. And I have to say; the reason I have been crying lately is because I’m not holding back anything. If I feel a certain way, I am going to let it flow.

6. Hug an animalI recommend a certain black lab or black pug… but you can choose any animal of your pleasing. I know my pups always help me through a tough moment. Although Bubba wont let me cuddle his face and Zeus just wants me to pet him, they really do know how to comfort me.

I’m not sure if any of this will help anyone, I hope it does. If you need anyone to talk to because YOU are stressed, I will always make time to talk and help people. If you need healthy recipes or choices for indulging, I have that too. If you need a pug to cuddle, I have that too. You are stronger than you think cough Kylie cough. You just need to believe in yourself a little bit more. If everyone else believes in you, why can’t you just believe in yourself?

Time to go run, work, and then have some cuddles with Bubble later tonight. See, I feel better already. And I’m not going to call it temporary because sometimes you just have to fake it till you make it. Right Shel?

Welp, I have started my new internship at Verizon! It is going great so far. It is a really great environment and I am learning a lot. On down time, I have been really good at using the time wisely and studying for my certification exam (which I scheduled for the end of September!). So yes, right now I am taking a quick break from studying and I am going to write because it always helps me clear my mind.

Not only have I been learning a lot at the internship, I have been learning a lot within myself. So I found something out that is pretty neat. Apparently, there are health & wellness jobs opening up all around the United States within Verizon and we are notified about them quite often. I’m talking Texas, California, and Maryland… all over! It made me realize how excited I am to graduate because I am a free spirit at that point. By the time that I graduate, I will hopefully have had enough money saved up and I will be able to relocate. Better believe that if I am given the opportunity, I am going to do anything in my power to give it a shot! I don’t have anything holding me back anymore, so why wouldn’t I take a fresh start?

I have been thinking a lot lately about a fresh start and how amazing that would be. Just to be in an entirely new place with entirely new people. No more of the same street signs, the same food places, or the same everyday faces. It really excites me although I do have my fears about it as well. Starting somewhere completely new? I’d have to make new friends, learn new roads, and quite possibly even get new taste buds. But even though some parts scare me, I also know that I have so much going for me. I know with my drive and my determination, I am going to make someone of myself and I am going to do what it takes to do that.No matter what happens, I will be happy with the outcome, I think? No matter what anyone tells me, I can’t-not think about the future. I’m not okay with waiting around for things to happen. I have gotten better at it, but I need some sort of plan. I don’t plan things down to a T anymore, but I do have something to go off of.

Lately, I have been so thankful that God gave me a sister. She has been helping me so much lately with so much going on. I can’t wait to go visit her next weekend, I hate not living in the same state as her anymore.I’ve decided to take a break from social media for a while. Why? Well, the details aren’t important. I was just going a little crazy about a few things, so I decided to save my sanity. My blog will obviously still be hooked up to my Facebook! But, I realized that I don’t need social media to stay in contact with my friends and family. Checking it and ‘creeping’ started to become too involved in my daily life and I am tired of putting myself through the pain of it, and I am also tired of letting little things eat me alive. Shelby told me if this is how I feel, then I need to make a change in my life and she is right… so I am starting here. We need to start with baby steps, right? (With saying that, I will be putting more energy into my blog. This is a happy environment that doesn’t make me want to rip my hair out, so I am going to embrace it more.)

So here I am. Lately, I have been WAY too focused on everything but myself. I’ve been giving way too much energy to relationships, work, school, and internships… and not enough energy into myself. I do this all too often. I am tired of relying on other people to bring me happiness and ESPECIALLY tired of letting social media determine my happiness. KYLIE determines KYLIE’s happiness, and I think it is time I get back to that. Sometimes life gets to be too much and I forget about that… right now is one of those times.

Heck, I’m really not perfect and neither is my life, therefore I don’t want to portray it to be. I am a completely normal girl with flaws, issues, and insecurities. I worry way too much, I feel unloved, and I get hurt easily over very little things. Sometimes I get let down and I burst into tears…over things that you may think are silly, but to me, it’s normal. I’m starting to learn that I am allowed to have these feelings. I am allowed to grin ear to ear when I get a sweet message from someone, and I am also allowed to cry when I feel like I am unwanted. We all have feelings! And there are no ‘bad’ feelings. It is all about how you handle your feelings. Do I always handle them correctly? Heck no! But that doesn’t make me wrong for feeling them. You are allowed to feel exactly the way you do right now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

So at the end of the day, I know what I want in life and I know what I have to do to get there. I know the level of respect I deserve, and I am not going to put up with less. I know the emotions that I tend to feel, and I am going to let myself feel them, just handle the execution a little better.

Hope everyone has been doing well lately. Overall, I can't really complain much, I just really need to start taking a stand in my life more. I am going to start posting more fitness and nutrition specific posts on their assigned pages, so I am pretty excited about the changes I am going to start making here!

This weekend was amazing. Not only because I got to spend it all weekend at a music festival with my boyfriend, but because I got to spend it all weekend at a music festival with my boyfriend. Yes you read that right, I will elaborate here.

A year ago, who ever would have guessed that I would love electric dance music? What about being able to spend a weekend away from home, in a new environment, with no anxiety? Oh! What about dancing my booty off for hours straight, not caring who was watching me? Well, if you didn’t know me back then… the answer is no one would’ve ever guessed.

I am obsessed with this music now. Justin has been taking me to these concerts since we started dating, but until this weekend… I didn’t really understand them. For those of you who don’t know, Moonrise festival is a 2 day long music festival with 50+ artists, some including BIG names like: Zedd, Tiesto, The Chainsmokers, and Bassnectar. Yes, I’m sure you have heard that a lot of people do crazy drugs here and it is ‘crazy’. Both of those statements are true. I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t notice people doing drugs… I saw plenty of that going on. But the thing is, no one tried to pressure you into doing anything. To be honest, I actually got asked for cigarettes more than anything.

I will admit, before I decided to go to the festival, I had been very judgmental on the whole scene, just like i'm sure many of you are. But going to this festival made me realize it isn't worth being judgmental on people. I didn't meet one rude person this weekend, no matter what they were wearing, how they looked, or the copious amounts of make up that they had on. There is more to people than meets the eye.

​Everyone here was SO friendly. It amazed me this music/event brought so many people together. Despite our race, gender, or sexual orientation… we all got together and had an amazing time. There were definitely some people who were “out there” but they were still very friendly. I felt comfortable waiting while Justin went to the bathroom… I just danced by myself or talked to some people. That’s the biggest part I loved! I wasn’t uncomfortable. I was so comfortable in my own skin and in my abilities to make friends… I just didn’t think twice about anything!

So when it came to outfits, at first I was a little worried. But then when I tried on my outfit both Justin and I knew it was perfect. I threw on a purple bikini top and a pair of my black Nike spandex (and also my neon pink fanny pack--- BEST INVESTMENT!). I was nervous that I wasn’t wearing enough and I would feel uncomfortable… but let me tell you, there were some people wearing way less than I was. That was the beauty of this festival. It’s not about what’s on the outside; it’s about enjoying the music and just being with good people. From a girl who just went to her first festival: If you are planning on going, I recommend either bikini bottoms or spandex. I was literally drenched in sweat 24/7. My hair felt like I had just gotten out of the shower by the end of the night. I actually wore some pink jean shorts on Sunday and it was a mistake. They were so uncomfortable. Just go for whatever is comfortable for you, I promise you will blend in.

​Speaking of wearing whatever is comfortable, I was a little worried that I wasn’t going to be comfortable showing off as much of my body as I was. But to my surprise, I was happy I did. Lately, I have really started to see my hard work pay off, so to be honest, I was okay with showing off a little. Yay for breaking another milestone! Every concert I’ve gone to, I’ve been nervous about wearing something that shows off my midsection because I didn’t like the way I looked… but honestly, I didn’t feel that way once this weekend. I felt so confident. And I could tell that my confidence showed. A memory that keeps replaying in my head is my dancing my butt off and looking over to my left and seeing Justin just grinning ear to ear, watching me dance. The look in his eyes, looking at me, just looked genuine. I knew that this weekend was completely genuine. We were both free. We were both living. We were both not worrying about anything in the world, except that exact moment. That exact song. That very beat. It’s the only thing that mattered… which is how life should always be.

This weekend helped me see what it felt like to live in the moment. It showed me that coming out of my shell was the best move I’ve ever made. I still have time for fitness. I still have time for work, school, and internships. I still have time for family and chores around the house. And most importantly, I still have time for life. I’m not obsessed with working all the time. I’m not obsessed with impressing anyone. I am obsessed with pleasing myself. I am obsessed with just enjoying my life. I have kept my work ethic strong, my relationships healthy, and most importantly- I have kept my mind happy. I am learning more and more everyday about myself and about life in general. I don’t live in a box anymore. I am free and I am freaking happy.

It feels good. Life feels good. It’s not perfect—I still worry about eating probably 70% of the time. I couldn’t go to the gym yesterday or today because my calves are literally rocks from jumping and dancing all weekend (it actually hurts to walk). I start a new internship that I have to knock out hours very quickly for. I am about to start a new full time job. I’m sick or have allergies…or something? And sometimes I have a lot on my mind. But hey- you have to learn to take the good with the bad. And one thing is definitely for sure; I have not once second-guessed where I’m at or how I got here.

If you have the chance to attend a festival, do it. They aren't cheap and they are absolutely exhausting... but every ounce of it was 100% worth it.

There is something about myself that I have never shared on my blog. I’ve been nervous to release it to the public but I think I am to the point that I can come to terms with it. Very few people know this about me, but the people that do are very supportive. I think the reason I don’t like talking about it is because most people react very harshly. It’s something you don’t really understand unless you live with it. Even while I am typing this, I am going through phases of “should I say it or shouldn’t I?” I’ve come very far, so I think it is something I should be proud of now.

I have an eating disorder. I have had a very unhealthy relationship with food for the past few years now. If you have never read the ‘about me’ section of my blog, about 7 years ago now, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. The way I would cope was running. I ran, a lot. But along with that… I didn’t eat. I lost a lot of weight but I looked too thin. I didn’t love my body enough to nourish it. I just wanted to be ‘skinny’. I didn’t even really care how I got there. I just figured that if I didn’t eat much, and I ran, then I would lose weight. That’s how it works, right? Wrong.

So I’m not sure exactly how it started to happen, but I decided to start eating. I ate healthy-ish, but for some reason I couldn’t say no to certain foods. So I would eat them and get rid of them, immediately after. I’m sure you can put the pieces together on that one. There were two ways that I would purge-- the old-fashioned way and the exercise way. I would read the calorie count on the treadmill (which, lets be real... is about 70% accurate on a good treadmill) and I would work off the food I just ate. Still SUPER unhealthy, but once again, I wanted to be skinny.

Then, I decided to wake up. I didn’t want to be ‘skinny’ anymore… I wanted to be strong. I wanted to have muscles and feel confident. So I started lifting weights. I have to say, since I started lifting (about 2-3 years ago), my life changed. I gained nearly 10 pounds but I was getting happier with my figure. I tried really hard to make good choices and I often did, but I cut everything out of my life. I was in bed by 8 o’clock every night, up by 5, and I worked my butt off at the gym. I never went out or had any sort of social life. I was eating healthy choices but something was still wrong… I could tell. How could I tell? I was still purging. You know how people say, “I love food too much to be anorexic?” Well that was the outlook I had. In my mind, I had this brilliant new idea! I could eat whatever in the world I wanted… because it wouldn’t stay in my system long enough to make me ‘fat’. If you think I’m making this up, you’re wrong. This is unfortunately the way that I thought.

I still am so glad that I decided to major in health and fitness. I understand more than I ever thought I would. It has made this journey to recover easier… but it is something that takes time. The average person overcomes an eating disorder within the span of 10 years. There is so much more to it than just purging or not eating and I think that is something not many people understand. With every bite I take, I think about how it will affect my body. Every night before I go to sleep I think about what I will eat the next day. There is a reason I only drink alcohol when I am out or I have the desire to catch a buzz. I don’t season my food with salt because I watch my sodium intake that closely. It is something that has the potential to control my entire way of thinking.

So here I am today. Today, I have decided I don’t want to be ‘strong’ or ‘skinny’. I have decided that I want to be Kylie. To this day, I still have an unhealthy relationship with food. It’s hard for me to indulge in certain things and after I do, I feel terrible about myself. These are some of the things that I am currently working on. I have come a long way with loving myself, but I still have a ways to go.

More people live with these disorders than you think. Lately, I realized that I have been doing better than I ever have been. Good choices feel like second nature, I am getting more comfortable with indulging, and I have even started to incorporate juice and lemonade into my diet. I think this is because of my ridiculously strong support system; I am surrounded by so much love and positivity, and I am also residing in a very peaceful environment… I am starting to become more comfortable with myself in general. It isn’t easy and I definitely have my days of doubt, but it’s better than it ever has been. I feel in control of my life and I feel like I finally have a grip on how to conquer this now.

There is a reason that people come in and out of your life. Everyday, Justin pushes me to help me reach my goals. He reminds me that I am beautiful, but he pushes me to still be better because he knows I have this potential. Jessica pushes me everyday to try and lose the fear of eating certain foods. She doesn’t let me stay away from things because I am scared of them. My parents stay on top of me to make sure that I am continuing to eat (because they know I somehow ‘forget’ sometimes). My sister and I text each other daily inspiration and motivation text messages to help keep me heal. The non-immediate family of mine that also knows has been so supportive as well… listening to me talk to them about the disorder and also being very compassionate.

So please, don’t question why I post daily fitness inspiration. When I post, I am in a very good place mentally. I like inspiring others; it makes me feel like I have a meaning. Don’t question why I drink diet soda instead of regular because it is ‘worse’ for you. (Besides the fact that it isn’t worse for you, I have many research articles proving that statement wrong). By asking me that, it reminds me that I am not mentally strong enough to drink a regular soda. Which is the truth, I am not. I am scared of regular soda. If you see me eating dessert, or you hear me choose fries over broccoli, don’t mention how “I’m a fit chick, I shouldn’t be eating that.” The small things like ordering fries instead of broccoli are a small victory for me, so please don’t ruin that.

Don’t tell me the way I look is because of my metabolism. The body that I have is a combination of fear and hard work. I dedicate myself to the working out and I dedicate myself to eating healthy, which is hard work. I don’t have the “eat whatever you want and not gain weight” genetics. I have the “work your ass off to become who you want” genetics. I am scared of eating certain things, which is a fact. Therefore I do not indulge daily. This fear has helped me keep my figure in a way because I do make better choices. But please, it is insulting to hear that the way I look is because of my metabolism because I promise it is not.

Most importantly, don’t tell me to just “stop thinking that way.” If I could, don’t you think I would? If it was as easy as snapping my fingers and just changing everything and every thought, I would. But there is no easy way out of this. This takes discipline, time, and effort; all of which I am willing to provide. I want to be free. I don’t want to be controlled by the thought of food anymore.

To you, this is crazy. To you, it is hard to believe that someone could live this way, ‘especially someone like me’, someone who is so inspirational, fit, and healthy. Well, we all have our secrets. Nobody is perfect and the things that seem easy and natural for you are not easy or natural for me. I don’t think jokes about anorexia or bulimia are funny. 99% of jokes are not off limits to me…but these are.

So there you have it. Everyone is fighting a battle that not everyone knows about. There is a rhyme and reason behind all the ‘weird’ decisions I make when it comes to food. I am learning balance and I am slowly but surely overcoming my fears. Thank you to everyone in my support system, you all have helped me in more ways than you think.

I am happy, healthy, and most importantly I am Kylie. I know I can overcome anything. You just read the basis for the book that I plan on hopefully writing some day. I have a ridiculous passion with helping people and I know that my journey is happening for a reason. I will say it until it comes true. I was put on this plant to changes someone’s life…. And that is what I am going to do.

I'm not putting up with unhealthy relationships in my life anymore... so i guess it's time that food and I start understanding each other. Don't ya think?

You sir, are the real deal. I have met so many “dads” in my life and NONE of them have even come close to you. I can’t say it enough how lucky I am to be your daughter.

Do you remember when I was in high school, when I was first diagnosed with anxiety and depression? You spent so much time at that school. Every time I had a panic attack in the nurse’s office, you came and sat there until I stopped crying and could head back to class. I’m actually tearing up writing this because I know dads who barely make an effort in their child’s life in general. You literally left work, at the drop of a dime because you knew that I needed you. For those of you who don’t know, when I was first diagnosed with this, my dad was the only person who could calm me down from an attack. I remember sitting on my bathroom floor bawling my eyes out, refusing to leave the bathroom… but my dad never once gave up on me. He would lie in my bed and talk to me even if I didn’t respond. He would take me out to Chipotle, to get ice cream, to go shopping, even just on a drive. He did whatever it took to get me out of the house. Thank you dad.

It can’t eat you. We run this muh’f&^@r! I remember waking up to notes on the kitchen counter every single morning from mom and you. Telling me that my anxiety couldn’t eat me and that no matter what, I was going to get through this because we are PETERS… and we make it through EVERYTHING. To this day when I text you that I am anxious, you will flood my phone with inspirational text messages as well as funny pictures. How do other people live without a dad like you? I don't understand.

I am so blessed and I really can’t say that enough. You taught me that my family and me feelings mean everything in this world. Possessions and things are useless in the end. You have never been more correct. You raised Shelby and I by giving us love, attention, and comfort. We aren’t rich. We don’t go on crazy amazing vacations. Hell, when I was younger we didn’t really take vacations for the fun of it. We don’t eat family dinners together at the table. I call you ‘Jimmy’ not ‘dad’. We make fun of each other more than anything. So, how did we grow up so closely knit?

We grew up this way because we spent every single weekend together as Shelby and I were growing up. We didn’t take vacations to Hawaii, Florida, or any beach for that matter. We took ‘vacations’ to softball fields and basketball courts. (I went from tearing up to having the biggest smile on my face now.) I remember waking up at 5:30 in the morning, walking out of my room and seeing our uniforms laid out on the couch, ready to go. We grew up this way because you and mom ALWAYS put us first. You and mom gave Shel and I everything you possibly could have.

I will never forget the first Build-a-Bear I ever got. Grandma decided to take Shelby, Sam, Dan, and I to Build-a-Bear one summer…on a Friday. And Friday’s have always been your day off. So what did I do? I stayed home with you. I always rememeber feeling bad leaving you; I felt like I had to spend time with you because you would be sad if I didn’t. (And no—I’m not making this up! Looking back on it…Dad probably wanted a day off but Kylie was always there!) Grandma ended up making me a Build-a-Bear and bringing it home to me. Till this day, we still have ‘daddy-sissy’ days, usually weekly.

We have really had some great times together dad. Driving 3.5 hours the morning after Grandma passed away to pick up Shelby. The week(s) we spent while Shelby, mom, and Grandma were in Colorado. (I remember just going to the grocery store and we bought everything we wanted...because mom wasn't there to tell us no. We always joked if we lived together without mom, we would be broke.) All the nights we played poker together. Going on juice runs. Going to the gym and spending hours there together. The hours spent playing softball and playing basketball in the front yard. Our walks we used to take every evening. Some of my best memories have been with you.

I think one of my favorite qualities about you is that you are always the first to say you made a mistake. I love getting texts from you saying you messed something up, so you clean it up, own up to it, and move on. It’s life and we all make mistakes. I will never forget when we talked about people who can’t do this and how they are not true to themselves. I knew adults who will never take blame for anything they do, and it is a sad site to see. I couldn’t imagine growing up around someone who isn’t true to themselves like that. Thank you dad. Thank you for letting me make my own mistakes, and teaching me to own up to them. It never gets less embarrassing or nerve wrecking…but what can you do? You own up to it and you move on. It is simple as that.

You’ve always had my back. You’ve always given me great advice. You’ve always built my self-esteem and self-confidence up. You have taught me how to be the bigger person (through example). You have really done it all. I don’t care what anyone thinks because I am in love with the woman that I am. I am not perfect. But I am real, and I have you to thank for that. You and mom have made me who I am today, and I am really freaking proud. I am happy, healthy, and ready to take on life. All thanks to you.

Thank you for teaching me about life, dad. I wouldn’t have wanted to learn these lessons from anyone else. Thank you for showing me what a REAL man is. I hope my husband can teach my children as well as you have taught Shelby and I.

“When my world goes crazy you won't let go. When the ground gets shaky you give me hope. When I try to push you away you never move. When I start doubting you help me see, there's a strength and a mind and a power in me."

< This was the first quote that popped up on my Pinterest newsfeed... coincidence? I think NOT.

​Do you ever build something up in your mind so much and you get so excited and when the time comes…it just isn’t want you pictured? It could end up being great…but it isn’t what you expected, so you get down. I tend to notice that I get this way when I am on a streak of comparison. I see other vacations, birthdays, relationships, and even bodies and I just compare. I see all the amazing things that people post (well duh, we don’t post the bad stuff on social media), and I compare my life to it. I knew we have all done it at one time or another. But it doesn’t make it okay. Even just one person suffering from this is enough to try and call it quits.

So why do we compare? Someone is skinnier? Someone is happier? Someone has more money? I think the most annoying part is knowing that deep down that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side…but still torturing yourself with the thought that it is. So how do we call it quits? How do we put a stop to letting the comparisons of others get to us? Well, we need to find the triggers and we need to make mental notes to STOP falling for these triggers. If we know that getting on Facebook may upset us…why the hell do we do it? Sorry for my language, but I mean come on. Why? I am SO guilty of this too. I say it’s time we stop giving into the stigma of social media and the perceived perfection of other’s lives. If we know something may get us feeling a certain way… I think it’s time we stop doing it. Because when you say it like that...it seems stupid that we keep doing it, right?

So here I am, I know I am not the only person that struggles with this.

5 ways to CUT comparison out of your life:IDENTIFY the triggersWhat is it that makes you feel this way? You know, that feeling you get when your stomach drops and your mind just starts to race. When you start to feel anxious and you can literally FEEL yourself rising with anger and self-doubt? Yeah…whatever it is that makes you feel that way, it is a TRIGGER. It may be social media, your phone, people, food… it could really be anything. And on top of that, it may be a completely different trigger than someone else, which is OK. You are allowed to have different triggers and feelings than other people. Just because it seems silly or stupid to someone else, doesn’t take away it’s worth to YOU.

DELETE the triggersThis is the hard part. At this point, if you have a trigger, you have most likely invested yourself in this trigger. It is probably a habit at this point too. Which honestly, habits SUCK to break, right? For example, in the past when all this political BS used to get to me (more than it does now), I deleted the Facebook app from my phone. BUT… I logged right onto Facebook through my Safari app…so what the heck was the point of me deleting the app if I wasn’t even going to try to resist the temptation? I literally thought that I was going to miss something. THAT is why I felt the need to check. Really? Social media does NOT run my life (well, I guess in a way, it kind of does?). I know for a fact one of my triggers is Facebook, therefore I am taking the stand to delete it off my phone. If I check it here and there, that is one thing…but to stalk it (like I feel that I do) is another thing and it isn’t healthy. Just know that I am not throwing this advice out here for others…I am going to start following my own advice. We are in this together.

Realize that what you have is ENOUGHI promise you that perfect couple online, that girl with the perfect abs, or the girl with the large bank account are not as happy as they appear. They have their moments of doubt, sadness, and lack of confidence. You are not the only one that ever feels this way. Easier said than done, but just try to remember that you have so much. You may not have exactly what they do, but what you have is YOURS. You should take pride in that. This biggest thing that I always remember is my FAMILY. Whenever I get to the point where I get upset for some reason, I try to remember my family and my dogs. Does it always make a difference? No, but more often than not, it truly does.

Count your blessings DAILYSometimes I like to make lists of the things that I am grateful for…just because. I like to remember everything I have. Whether it makes a difference when I am having a comparison attack (lol—definitely just made that up), it makes a difference in the long run.If you want to see how rich you are, count how many things you have that money can’t buy.

STOP wishingStop wishing for these things to magically become yours. If you want more money, go make it. If you want happiness, go find it. If you want abs, do what it takes. You have the capability to change for the things you want, it’s just up to you to take the steps to do so. If you want to look like her so badly, do what it takes. If you want a happy relationship, make it. Your life is not your social media life. Your life is not your job. Your life is not your friend’s life. Your life is your own life and only you can make it the way you want it. I want to be able to run a faster mile therefore I work towards that. I want to be able to be more confident in myself therefore I am taking the first step and identifying the triggers. I am not going to keep wishing for a miracle to happen. Eh, this may not be very positive but I don’t really believe in miracles. If they were real, Grandma would be alive.

Seriously guys. You have one life. Are you going to keep living it being upset, disappointed, and anxious? Well, I’m not. No more expectations. No more putting yourself down. Here is to being less attached to devices and the thought of freedom. If you want your own mental freedom, you’ve got to go create it.

I was driving the yesterday and this topic hit me out of nowhere. I immediately texted Shelby so I didn’t forget about it.I really enjoyed writing this post. It is kind of about everything that I enjoy standing for.

Giving up the things you loveIf you want your muscles to show, if you want to lose weight, or if you want to gain weight, you will definitely have to change your eating habits. The hardest part is always in the kitchen; that is the truth. But the thing is, if you give up all the things you love, what are you stuck with? Unhappiness. That is what you are stuck with. It’s all about balance! Example: the other day I wanted an iced coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts… what goes perfect with this? Well, a donut obviously. BUT, I knew that I should be snacking on my vegetables. Lucky for me, I enjoy eating vegetables, but I made a deal with myself. I told myself it was OKAY to have a yummy iced coffee, I will just skip out on the donut this time. It was a great decision because I felt great and had tons of energy that afternoon because I had no sugar crash. I used to have this issue where I would tell people not to let me eat things… and it was horrible because they actually listened. It was a blessing though because I have finally realized that NO ONE has the power to run my life…therefore I stopped giving people the opportunity to run my life for me. This is your life. If you love donuts, then eat the damn donuts (just do it in moderation)! If you love being a couch potato on Sunday, be a couch potato!

Doing workouts you dislikeOkay lets be real here… Let’s say you finally reach your ‘goal body’. Now what? Do you just stop doing the workouts you disliked? The point here is not looking a certain way; it is feeling a certain way! Find activities that you truly enjoy, your ‘dream’ body will come. How? Well, your mental state will alter. You will begin to start loving yourself more for who you are, not what you look like. THAT is what matters here, accepting yourself for who you are. Now, I am not saying there is anything wrong with having goals to look a certain way, more power to you! Just don’t pressure yourself to do things you dislike to get there.

Proving a point to someone elseWhy create a new lifestyle…all for someone else? Don’t do it to show off or prove a point, do it because you know it is good for you. Go on a run because you LOVE the feeling, not because you want to rub it in someone’s face that you ran. Post pictures of you lifting weights because you want to inspire others, not because you want to prove how strong you are. This lifestyle is for YOU; don’t make it about someone else. This is a journey to find yourself and love yourself, start it out on the right foot. Because if these people you are showing off for or trying to prove a point to are anything like me… they are SO happy for your success and desire to better yourself! It isn’t worth trying to bring other people down, if you automatically look at everything on the positive side, it is nearly impossible to be let down!

Comparisons“This fitness model looks so amazing, I will never be able to look like that.” “Why does she look that good even though we have been working out together?” “I look so much better than her, sucks for her.”No. No. No! This is not a race! This is not about beating one another! Well, maybe if you are a fitness model, I will give you that… but even so, we are all here for one reason! TO BETTER OURSELVES! I am going to be honest, one of my biggest pet peeves is when I smile at someone in the gym and they don’t smile back. I understand being ‘in the zone’ but really? I know you see me standing here… smiling at you. This is one of the reasons why I LOVE where I work! It is such a happy, positive environment. All the women there have one common goal—to love themselves and be comfortable in their own skin! To me, there is no race and there is no hurry to get somewhere. This is a journey for ME and I am so happy when I see someone else’s results! I love seeing people love themselves. It is so beautiful to me. So stop comparing yourself, you are beautiful and so are they.

Keeping up with all the new health fadsIT CHANGES ALL THE TIME. I PROMISE. I can’t tell you how many times I have had a professor say something like “well, this is something new they just came out with.” The health field is changing every day. Should you have some sort of idea about what is going on before you dive head first into something you may know nothing about? Yeah of course, but that doesn’t mean you have to do everything you read. It has happened to me. I heard about fasted cardio and I was SO quick to try it. It took me 10 minutes to research the topic, and to realize that for my goals, that isn’t for me! Just because everyone is doing it, doesn’t mean you have to do it too. We all have different goals, body types, and metabolisms… what is meant for Sally may not be meant for you!

Excessive spendingYou don’t have to spend ridiculous amounts of money to be healthy. Do vegetables cost money? Yes they do, but they are the same price as a bag of chips! Does a gym membership cost money? Yes, but you don’t have to buy one! Does water cost money? Errr—maybe, depending on where you live I suppose? Anyways, the point here is that, being healthy does not need to be a huge expensive ordeal. If you enjoy going to the gym (like I do), then get a membership… otherwise, workout at home! If you always waste fresh vegetables and fruits because you don’t eat them fast enough and you are wasting, then try frozen vegetables and fruits! There are so many options to cut costs here! YouTube has workout videos, Pinterest has cheap and easy meal prep plans… you just need to take the time out and look at your options!

Being ‘skinny’One of the biggest rules that I try to preach (especially to myself) is to workout because you love your body, not because you hate it. I feel that the new fad is to be healthy so you can change your body, but what people don’t realize is that being healthy isn’t meant to be a temporary fix. Being healthy is about connecting your mind, body, and spirit together and learning to love every ounce of yourself. Don’t work towards being skinny… work towards being healthy! Healthy will feel a lot better than skinny will.

Being on a dietThe word diet scares me at times. Although, I am glad that people are starting to realize that just because you are making healthier choices, doesn’t mean you are on a diet. Everyone has a diet. I try to live with the 80/20 rule…although some days I feel like I am more 50/50. You don’t have to be on a diet to be healthy. As long as your body is getting the nutrients it needs, you should be golden. If you want to see results in your physique, should you make healthier choices? Well, obviously yes, but with saying that—just because you are making healthier choices, doesn’t mean you are on a diet. Today, instead of eating both slices of the bun with my burger, I decided to eat some fries and only use one of the slices. I love simple carbohydrates, but I try to only consume small amounts because I know my body will have more energy if I make better choices (eating more complex carbohydrates). Does it always work out that way? LOL! No…it doesn’t. But that is okay because I am very pleased with MY diet, and you should learn to love yours!

An end gameYou will fail. You will get upset at yourself. You are bound to overeat. You will go a week or two without hitting the gym. Why? Because you are human. No one is perfect and no one expects you to be. Failure is apart of the story. If you don’t fail, how will you know what it feels like to succeed? It will happen and it is perfectly fine. This journey is all about finding out who you are and loving yourself. As long as you learn to love yourself and accept yourself for all your flaws and mistakes… you are going to keep moving forward. Inspiring others, searching for happiness, and spreading positivity are all things that are going to make this journey worthwhile.

Did you find something in common with all of these topics? It really has nothing to do with how you look because at the end of the day, as long as you love yourself, how you look will perfect in your eyes. Holistic health is all about connecting your mind, body, and spirit together. I have to say, once I decided to give up the comparisons and the nagging myself about the foods I ate… I became a lot happier and I dropped a lot of stress out of my life. My body fell right into place because I was doing what I knew I needed to do and I was happy doing it. When you make a positive mental change like this, the small changes you are making to your health everyday will become a lot easier to make. Give it a try!

I’m right where I need to be. Right here in time, everything is as it should be.

This is kind of a bit of a lot. I haven’t blogged lately for a few different reasons: summer classes were kicking my butt, establishing my training business isn’t a walk in the park, and I just haven’t had much to write about. I haven’t had the desire to sit down and type. I’ve been pretty busy lately just concentrating on myself and different ways to make my life more positive and fun—and luckily, I have found exactly what I have been looking for.

Friday when I was at Jensy’s surprise party, and I couldn’t stop thinking about all the blessings surrounding me. Lauren (Lindsay’s best friend) was at the party. Before she left the party, she went up to Jensy and told her that one night her and Lindsay had a sleepover while I was sitting, and she had so much fun that she really wants to come over again when I am sitting, so she can see me. It’s the little things like that, that make me smile. I was so happy. It feels so good to know you are loved. There’s a difference between someone keeping you around because it is convenient and easy, versus actually being loved and wanted.

Last night, I was outside playing with Ella and Shane (other cuties I babysit for) and we had so much fun. The weather was perfect and I had so much energy to keep up with them (thank the lord I have finally found contentment with my diet). The kiddos had pizza and I decided to make a spinach, rotisserie chicken salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, and a drizzle balsamic vinegar. With a slice of flax seed flatbread and a cheese stick on the side? Yes, it was wonderful. My portion was perfect, I took my time eating, and I realized I finally did it.

I’m here. I made it to where I want to be.

My life consists ONLY of things that make me happy. I am a personal trainer (one of my goals), I follow my own meal prep plan (meal prep with a good 80/20 balance), and I am surrounded by people who love me. Fitness and health are my life. I cannot believe I didn’t rearrange my life sooner because I didn’t know it was possible to feel this good about my life.

Sometimes I think about how it’s scary to move on. You don’t think it’s possible because you are so used to your old way of life. I mean it was all you knew… So really, starting over seems tough. But I promise you; it is the most relieving feeling. The best part is that YOU get to rebuild everything! You get to make all your decisions and you start to realize that being in control of your own life is a beautiful thing. I’ve found happiness and stability in the way of life I have always dreamed about. But, there are some things that have always stayed constant: I have a family, who truly cares about me; I have friends who want to be my friend for who I am, I have a body that I am so incredibly proud of because I have worked my ass off to get it, and I have a boyfriend who shows me affection and gives me effort every damn day. I don’t feel the need to force relationships anymore, I don’t feel the need to be accepted by anyone anymore, and most importantly-- I don’t feel stressed.

Now that I have caught you up on my life and since this blog post is about the positivity of change--I feel like writing about ways to spice up your workout. Ways to change it up so you don’t get bored or plateau!

Body weightSo. Much. Fun. And so hard! I absolutely love doing body weight exercises, I’ve been really trying to incorporate them lately because I see such differences so quickly. I did a Piyo video the other day (pilates and yoga) and it kicked my butt (literally…it was mostly glutes!). It was so fun though. Handstands, yoga poses, push-ups, pull-ups, air squats, lunges… anything you can think of!

High rep, low weightThis is what I’m working with right now. I love the burn in my muscles when I start to reach the end of a set. Working muscle endurance is just as important as strength. It’s nice to switch it up and give your muscles something different to overcome. (This is commonly used in a cutting phase.)

Low rep, high weightI just got done with this scheme a few weeks ago! I love the feeling of lifting super heavy weights; it feels so good to see the improvements and changes. This is commonly used with a bulking phase. The best part is learning your new rep max for each muscle group. I definitely am sore ALL the time when I am following this scheme.

Fasted cardioThis one is tricky. I see some people throwing fasted cardio around and not really understanding what it is used for. There are studies that think fasted cardio is the most efficient way to burn fat, and there are other studies that think it is not necessary in fat burning. Let’s start with what fasted cardio is. It is performing cardio on an empty stomach (normally performed first thing in the morning before consuming calories), with the hopes to burn fat "more efficiently and more abundantly." When you are sleeping (and fasting during this time) overnight, you are preserving your carbohydrates (your body’s main source of fuel), and using some of your fat stores for energy, in hopes to save some of your carbohydrate stores. But also quite possibly breaking down amino acids to make more glucose, which you do not want to do. If you break down your amino acid stores, it is a good indicator you are not consuming enough carbohydrates or fats in your diet, therefore resorting to protein for ATP. Meaning, you are breaking down your muscle because your body is in need of ATP (energy). Now also remember, this will depend on your fat stores. I’ve tried fasted cardio before, and it just isn’t for me. If you do not have a high body fat percentage, there really isn’t a need for you to be participating in fasted cardio (unless you enjoy working out on an empty stomach and can understand what is happening in your body), but if you have a higher body fat percentage (meaning extra fat stores) then maybe fasted cardio is something you want to attempt. Just make sure that you are listening to your body… just because something is the new “fad” does NOT mean it is for everybody!

HIITI love love LOVE HIIT! HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training. I’ve done so many projects on this topic, made many workouts, and also see other individuals in my classes present projects on this topic! The point behind HIIT is to raise your heart rate higher, in a shorter period of time, which results in raising your metabolism the rest of the day. Meaning you will burn more fat and calories in the long run! Who doesn’t want to burn more fat and calories in a shorter amount of time?

​So there are just some options for you to consider if you are bored at all with your workouts. Remember to listen to your body and RESEARCH!! And I am not talking Google something and read the first article that pops up... Read articles with a scientific background or better yet, read actual research articles! For instance- if you body is lacking energy, know that you probably need to consume some carbohydrates to give your body some energy. Once you learn how to read your body I think it makes this whole process a lot easier.

But all in all, keep your body guessing and do things that are FUN! Fitness should be about having fun and keeping your body healthy. Don’t do it for other people, do it for YOU. Ya know, this goes for life as well… life is about having fun, being true to yourself, and being HAPPY. Stop wasting time and energy on toxic people and toxic situations. Let go of negativity.

​I know most selfless person in the entire world. This person will literally put their emotions aside for anyone and anything. I have never known a situation where this person has put their feelings before someone else’s. And I know, I preach all the time about putting your own happiness first, but I cannot help but envy this person for how selfless they are.

This person knows how to respects elders, is young enough to be adventurous and try new things, but old enough to have the maturity of a 80 year old. I love the drive that this person shows every single day. When they go to work, they give it their all. It may not be the most desirable job in the world, and there are definitely better ones out there… but that doesn’t stop them. They push through it because at the end of the day, they know that they enjoy what they are doing. Every day that goes by, they are providing for their future and they have never taken their eye off that price.

This person is a she. She is creative…my goodness is she creative. She can sit for hours and let her creativity just flow. The best part is, it is always beautiful. No matter what she creates, the world loves it. The entire world would fall in love with her if they had the chance. She has a handful of close friends and she is still friends with people whom she has known since she was a little girl. I think it is truly beautiful when people pull this off… it doesn’t happen for everyone, but for the people it does happen for, it is beautiful.

She is hilarious. And I am not talking like your center of attention, attracting the crowd kind of hilarious… I’m talking the best kind of hilarious. She has her own kind of humor and she finds humor and happiness in the smallest of things. She can light up the room with her smile, her big eyes, and bright personality.

She has pushed me for as long as I can remember. She has never once given up on me and I don’t know how I will ever be able to thank her for that. Every time something is wrong, she is my go-to girl. No one has ever been able to give me advice like she can. And you know what? She’s always right. Like I said, she has the knowledge of an 80 year old woman…and it amazes me everyday that I was blessed with her presence.

Have you guess who SHE is yet? No?

Her name is Shelby Leigh Marcey and she is my older sister. She is the best damn thing that has ever happened to me and I thank God everyday for her. She has known me since the day I was born and she has still stuck around all this time. And yeah, she is my biological sister, but that doesn’t mean anything. I’ve seen families fall apart. I’ve seen people not give their families love and affection. I’ve seen siblings give up on each other… but not Shelby and I. We have always had such a strong bond. She is truly my best friend and I know for a fact that nothing can replace the love of my sister. Even though she lives 9 hours away and she won’t have kids yet… she is still the best sister in the entire world.

You might have been able to guess one other person when I was describing Shelby. That is my mother. Yeah, my mother is also my go-to girl. She is THE most creative woman I have ever had the pleasure to meet and she never ever steers me wrong with her advice. Nothing in this world could replace the love of a mother and I am so glad that I have the best one. She makes me laugh, she helps me when I want to cry, and she has always put my sister and I first. Incase you were wondering, yes, Shelby is literally my mother in the best and worst way possible. They fight the same, they give the same advice, and they think the same corny jokes are hilarious... I know this is exactly what you wanted to hear sissy ;)

My mother and my father have shown me what love truly is and I am so blessed to have witnessed it. I am blessed for the family I have, and I don’t take it for granted. But no, my family is not perfect. We argue, sometimes I hate what my parents cook for dinner, the kitchen isn’t always clean, I feel like I am the one always cleaning the toilets, we walk around in our underwear, and we laugh at things we definitely should not laugh at… but they are my family and nothing will ever be able to change that. I love the family that I was given because they are MY family, they have made me who I am today. We are crazy, annoying, loud, and I can’t go 30 minutes cuddling Bubba without my dad coming in and bugging us… but you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. I really wouldn’t. I hope everyone really takes a minute to thank God for your parents and siblings. You were given them for a reason.

Moral of the story, love your family and the ones close to you, whoever that may be.